A Tough Goodbye
How do you know your child is in the right place?
First the phone calls slow down. A lot. And then you notice that your heart rate stays steady when the school’s phone number shows up on your caller ID. (The staff, well versed in piecing these kids and their parents back together, know to start any call that's not about a crisis with 'Everything's fine.')
You know it when your child’s new ‘village’ sees her as a person with strengths, and not as a problem they have no idea how to solve. You have time to wonder how you occupied yourself before the disaster of the previous school placement seized every spare ounce of your mental energy. You almost feel bored.
Your child starts to let the world back in a little, which is a relief because she spent months shutting herself off from anyone, even an elementary school classmate she’d known for years. She stops feigning illness in the mornings. You're a lot less worried about what's coming home in her backpack. She even completes work without tearing it first.
And then you know the healing is underway in earnest when a picture arrives. Your girl made her village laugh. She hijacked the classroom phone for a prank call to the behavior support specialist. The staff decides it's a great time to work on an IEP goal and encourage her to prolong the call. They already recognize the smile that means she's ready to entertain, and they know the best play is to roll with it.
Your fury over the wasted sixth grade year eases as your daughter's spark returns. You wonder if your opinion of the district employees who tried to block her way will recover too.
Spoiler alert: It doesn't. But it also doesn't matter. You're now working with a team that puts its effort into fighting for her instead of opposing her parents. Sending her to school feels safe again.
Nine years later
At least, that’s how it worked for us. Fast forward to 2022, and Leah is less than two weeks from graduation from St. Elizabeth School, a day we've honestly been dreading. We decided to mark the occasion with a graduation gift to St. E’s. One area in which they excel is teaching functional skills that help their graduates become as independent as possible. For the last two years (or at least the chunk not lost to COVID), Leah has been assigned to their Immersion Program, which includes regular community outings and an emphasis on preparation for life after school. As we’ve explored adult services this year, we’ve realized that St. Elizabeth students exit school with a much better skill set than most transitioning students. Imagine our surprise when we learned that this program accomplishes a lot with very little extra funding.
Please consider helping us thank them for nine years spent firmly in Leah’s corner with a donation in her name. Funds will be directed to the Immersion Program.